The invention relates to a bone anchoring device for anchoring a stabilization rod in a bone or in a vertebra. The bone anchoring device includes an anchoring element, a receiving part for receiving a head of the bone anchoring element and for receiving a stabilization rod to be connected to the anchoring element. The anchoring element is pivotably connected to the receiving part and can be fixed at an angle by exerting pressure onto the head via a pressure element which is arranged in the receiving part. The pressure element comprises a spring element which engages a portion of the receiving part so that it can be held in a position which allows pivoting of the anchoring element.

US 5,716,356 describes a polyaxial bone screw including a screw element and a receiving part which is pivotably connected to the screw element and a pressure element to exert pressure onto the head of the screw element to fix the angle between the screw element and the receiving part. The receiving part has an U-shaped channel for receiving a stabilization rod. The pressure element comprises a cylindrical recess which is to be aligned with the U-shaped channel to receive the rod therein. In order to hold the pressure element in a position aligned with the U-shaped channel, the position of the pressure element is fixed by crimping through bores provided in the receiving part.

US 5,672,176 describes another example of a polyaxial bone screw with a pressure element which is also held in place by crimp bores without impeding a sufficient movement of the pressure element to clamp the head.

US 2005/0080420 A1 describes a multiaxial bone screw which includes a screw element and a receiver member, a base member for retaining the screw element in the receiver member and a crown element exerting pressure onto the head of the screw element. The crown element comprises a snap-ring assisting in holding the crown element within the receiving part by interfering with a stop surface of the receiving part. The multiaxial bone screw is a so-called bottom loading type screw wherein the screw element is introduced from the bottom into receiving part.

The WO 2006/116437 A2 describes a bone anchor for spinal fixation in form of a polyaxial bone screw including a screw element, a housing, a sleeve and a collet arranged in the housing for exerting pressure onto the head of the screw element. The sleeve has retention tabs which snap into slots in opposite wall positions of the housing.

WO 2008/008511 A2 discloses a bone stabilizer assembly, comprising a fixation element adapted to engage a bone and having a head portion and shank portion; a coupling element having an internal bore sized to receive the shank portion of the fixation element and a conical seat for supporting the head portion of the fixation element. The coupling element is adapted to receive a stabilizer rod.

US 2009/0069853 A1 discloses a surgical retaining screw as defined in the preamble of claim 1, comprising a shaft with an external thread, a head part connected to the shaft securely or movably, wherein said head part having an interior space open towards the upper side located opposite the shaft as well as two openings arranged on oppositely located sides of the head part. Said openings being open towards the upper side and forking a receptacle for a bar-like connecting part, and a clamping screw adapted to be screwed into the interior space from the upper side in such a manner that it clamps a connecting part placed in the receptacle in said receptacle.

Usually, the polyaxial bone screws of the above described type are delivered, for example by the manufacturer, in a pre-assembled condition. In this condition a specific screw element, e.g. a screw element having a specific length and shaft diameter or a specific thread form, is connected to a receiving part and the pressure element is arranged therein so that it cannot escape. For the surgery the necesary number and types of such pre-assembled polyaxial bone screws are selected and provided in advance as a full set of implants.

It is the object of the invention to provide a bone anchoring device which can be handled in a simple manner at the operation site or anywhere by the surgeon or other personnel.

The object is solved by an anchoring device according to claim 1. Further developments are given in the dependent claims.

The bone anchoring device has only few parts. The parts are of a simple design. This provides for a lower cost manufacturing and a convenient handling without sophisticated tools or machinery. It is possible to assemble the bone anchoring device by hand in any condition of the delivery after the parts have been manufactured and before the screw element is inserted into the bone. Therefore, the assembling of the polyaxial bone screw can be carried out by anybody, in particular by the surgeon or any personnel assisting him before or during surgery.

With the bone anchoring device a modular system can be provided which allows to combine various anchoring elements with any suitable receiver on demand dependent on the actual clinical requirements. This reduces the costs of polyaxial screws, reduces the inventory and gives the surgeon a substantial choice of implants. In addition, existing receiving parts may be upgraded with the pressure element to form the bone anchoring device according to the invention.

An assembly tool is simple and its function and handling is immediately apparent to the user. The correct mounting of the pressure element is easily recognizable. An insertion tool to be used for inserting the bone anchoring device permits a safe handling of the bone anchoring device during surgery.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments by means of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1

shows an exploded side view of a first embodiment of the bone anchoring device.

Fig. 2

shows a side view of the bone anchoring device of Fig. 1 in an assembled state and rotated by 90°.

Fig. 3

shows a sectional view of the bone anchoring device according to Fig. 2 along line A-A.

Fig. 4

shows a sectional view of the receiving part of the bone anchoring device of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5a-5c

show a side view, a side view rotated by 90° and a sectional view, respec- tively, of the pressure element of bone anchoring device according to the first embodiment.

Figs. 6a) to c)

show a side view, a side view rotated by 90° and sectional view, respec- tively, of a pressure element according to a second embodiment of the bone anchoring device.

Figs. 7 a) to c)

show a side view, a side view rotated by 90° and a sectional view, respec- tively, of a pressure element of a third embodiment of the bone anchor- ing device.

Figs. 8 a) to c)

show a side view, side view rotated by 90° and a sectional view, respec- tively, of the pressure element of a fourth embodiment of the bone an- choring device.

Figs. 9 a) to h)

show steps of assembling the bone anchoring device using a tool for assembling the bone anchoring device, each step in a side view and a side view rotated by 90°, respectively.

Fig. 10

shows a side view of the bone anchoring device together with a tool for inserting the bone anchoring device into the bone.

Fig. 11

shows an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the tool together with the bone anchoring device.

The bone anchoring device 1 according to a first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 includes a bone anchoring element, in this case a screw member 2 having a threaded shaft 3 and a head 4. The head 4 is, for example, shaped as a spherical segment. It has a recess 4' at its free end for engagement with a tool. The bone anchoring device further includes a receiving part 5 for connecting the screw member 2 to a rod 20. A pressure element 6 is arranged in the receiving part 5 on top of the head 4. For securing the rod 20 in the receiving part and for exerting pressure onto the pressure element a two part locking device consisting of an outer screw 7 cooperating with the receiving part 5 and an inner screw 8 cooperating with the outer screw 7 is provided. It should be understood that the locking device shown is exemplary and can be realized in many other designs, in particular as a one part locking device and with different thread forms.

The receiving part 5 as shown in particular in Figs. 1 to 4 is formed in one piece. In the example shown, it is substantially cylindrical and has a first bore 51 at one end thereof for passing the threaded shaft 3 therethrough. The bore 105 is followed by a seat portion 52 for accommodating the head 4 of the screw element. The seat portion 52 can be sperically-shaped or tapered or can have any other shape which allows to accommodate the head 4 so that it can pivot with respect to the receiving part. The seat portion may have a threaded portion 52' to facilitate the insertion of larger diameter screw shafts. A second bore 53 opening towards the side opposite to the first bore 51 is provided for introducing the threaded shaft 3 together with the head 4. At the side of the second bore 53 the receiving part has a substantially U-shaped recess 54 by means of which two free legs 55, 56 are formed which are the side walls of a channel for receiving the rod 20. An internal thread 57 is provided at the legs for cooperating with the outer screw 7 of the locking device. The second bore 53 can have a tapered section 57' at a transition between a larger diameter of the internal thread portion and a smaller diameter in a middle portion which provides a stop for the downward movement of the pressure element. Further, bores 57, 58 extending through the receiving part 5 are provided on opposite sides in the legs 55, 56. The diameter and cross-section of the bores 57, 58 are constructed so as to allow engagement with a portion of the pressure element 6 to be described below.

The pressure element 6 according to the first embodiment as particularly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5a) to c) is formed in one piece. It is of substantially cylindrical construction and has an outer diameter which allows it to move in axial direction within the second bore 53 of the receiving part 5. On its side facing the head 4 of the screw element a spherical recess 61 is provided which is adapted to the size of the head 4. On its side opposite to the head 4, the pressure element has a cylindrical recess 62 adapted to receive the rod 20 therein. By means of the recess 62 two free legs 63, 64 are formed which form the side walls of a channel to receive the rod. In the embodiment shown, the depth of the recess 62 is larger than the diameter of the rod so that the legs extend above the rod. At the end of the pressure element which is opposite to the head 4 the pressure element may have a rim with an enlarged diameter providing a shoulder 65 which abuts against tapered section 57' of the receiving part when the pressure element clamps the head 4.

The pressure element further comprises on the outer wall portion of each of the legs 63, 64 a spring element 66, 66' with a detent portion 67, 67' which cooperates with the receiving part, in particular with the bore 58, 59. The spring element 66, 66' is formed by means of a slot 69, 69' which is closed at the top and at the bottom and which extends completely through the legs in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel, thereby leaving a portion of each leg spaced apart from the main body of the pressure element. At the outer wall of the spring element, the detent portion 67, 67' is provided which projects outward in such a way that the outer diameter of the pressure element at the detent portion is larger than the inner diameter of the bore 53 of the receiving part. The overall size of the slot is larger than the cross-section of the bores 58, 59 in the receiving part. The depth and the overall size of the slot is such that the spring element 66, 66' can be moved resiliently into the space provided by the slot to such an extent, that the detent portion 67, 67' can be immersed therein. As can be seen in particular in Figs. 5b) and c), the detent portion is asymmetric in a direction of the bore axis of the receiving part to allow insertion but prevent removal of the pressure element. The detent portion 67, 67' has has a substantially circular base portion which goes over in a slanted manner into an upper portion which has an edge 67a which abuts to the upper wall of the bore 58, 59 such that the detent portion once it is snapped into the bore 58, 59, as shown in Fig. 3, cannot be removed without using a specific tool.

Finally, the pressure element 6 has a coaxial bore 6a extendig through it to allow access to the head 4 by a tool.

The outer screw 7 of the locking device can be screwed into the threaded legs of the receiving part until it presses onto the upper rim of the pressure element which moves the pressure element downward until it presses onto the head to lock the head in the receiving part. The outer screw has a threaded bore 71 into which the inner screw 8 can be screwed to clamp the rod 20. The parts of the bone anchoring device are all made of a body compatible material such as titanium or stainless steel, a body compatible metal alloy, for example a Ti-Ni alloy, or a body compatible plastic material, such as PEEK. In particular the pressure element 6 can be made of a body compatible plastic material which allow an easy manufacture and a safe function of the spring element.

A second embodiment of the bone anchoring device will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and 6. The description of parts which are identical to the frist embodiment will not be repeated. Like parts have the same reference numerals. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only by the design of the pressure element. As can be seen in Figs. 6a) to 6c), the pressure element 601 differs from the pressure element 6 of the first embodiment only by the shape of the detent portion 670, 670'. The detent portion 670, 670' is symmetric in a direction of the bore axis of the receiving part to allow insertion and removal of the pressure element. In the specific embodiment shown, the detent portion is shaped as a portion of a sphere. Since it is continuous in upward and downward direction, the detent portion can snap into the bore 58, 59 by a downward movement of the pressure element and out of it by an upward movement. The recesses 58, 59 at the receiving part can be made smaller and adapted in their shape to the shape of the detent portion so that the detent portion 670, 670' can snap into it and rest therein. The detent portion can have any other symmetric shape.

A third embodiment of the bone anchoring device will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and 7. The description of parts which are identical to the frist embodiment will not be repeated. Like parts have the same reference numerals. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment only by the design of the pressure element. The pressure element 602 has slots 690, 690' which are open to the top so that the spring element 660, 660' is a lip being resiliently movable into the slot. With this construction the flexibility of the spring element can be enhanced. As in the first embodiment, the detent portion 67 is asymmetric.

A fourth embodiment of the bone anchoring device will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and 8. The description of parts which are identical to the frist embodiment will not be repeated. Like parts have the same reference numerals. The fourth embodiment differs from the second embodiment only by the design of the pressure element. The pressure element 603 does not have the broadened rim with shoulder 65. Further, the slots 691, 691' at the legs are open to the top thereby forming resilient lips as spring elements. The detent portion 670, 670' is symmetric as in the second embodiment. The recess 620 forming the channel for the rod has side walls which do not project above the rod. Hence, the pressure element can be used with a one part locking device which simultaneously locks the rod and the head by acting onto the pressure element. The pressure element according to the fourth embodiment is easy to manufacture, has enhanced flexibility of the spring elements and is removable.

Features of the different pressure elements described in the Figs. 5 to 8 can be combined among each other to construct various other pressure elements.

Next, a tool for assembling the bone anchoring device and assembling steps are shown with reference to Figs. 9a) to h). The first Figure of each step shows a side view in direction of the rod axis and the subsequent second Figure a side view perpendicular to the rod axis. The tool 90 includes a base portion 91 which is substantially cylindrical with a diameter which allows it to be placed onto a support, e.g. a table or the like (not shown). A cylindrical intermediate portion 92 extends coaxially from the base portion 91. The outer diameter of the intermediate portion is such that the intermediate portion can be introduced into the receiving part as shown in Fig. 9g). At the end opposite to the base portion 91 a dummy rod portion 93 is provided at the intermediate portion. The dummy rod portion 93 has the diameter of the rod 20 so that the dummy rod portion 93 fits into the channel formed by the recess 62 in the pressure element 6. The rod axis of the dummy rod portion extends perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the base portion.

In step 1, first, as shown in Figs. 9a) and 9b), the tool is placed on a support such that the dummy rod portion 93 is on the top. Then, as shown in Figs. 9c) and 9d), the pressure element is placed onto the dummy rod portion 93 with the U-shaped recess 62 facing downward. In step 2, the screw element 2 and the receiving part 5 which have been pre-assembled are moved towards the tool with the U-shaped recess 54 of the receiving part facing downward and being aligned with the axis of the dummy rod portion 93. The pre-assembling of the screw element and the receiving part is carried out beforehand by introducing the screw element from the top, i.e. from the second bore 53 into the receiving part until the head 4 is seated in the seat portion 52. In step 3, the dummy rod portion 93 with pressure element 6 is introduced into the receiving part by pressing the receiving part down. The spring elements 66, 66' on the legs of the pressure element as described above are pressed into the slots 69, 69' until the recesses 58, 59 in the receiving part are reached which allow the expansion of the spring elements and the catching of the detents 67, 67'. The catching of the detents is audible so that the user can be sure that the pressure element is at the correct position. By means of the tool the pressure element can be easily inserted in the correct orientation so that its rod receiving recess (62) is aligned with the U-shaped recess (54) of the receiving part. Further, the pressure element is held in the aligned position by the engagement of the spring elements in the recesses of the receiving part. In this position, the head is still pivotable in the receiving part. The pressure element is held so firmly that it cannot fall out of the receiving part during handling but is still movable upon exertion of a force to clamp the head.

If a pressure element with a symmetric detent is used as described before, the pressure element can be removed from the pre-assembled position by pressing it out of the receiving part with the screw element.

Hence, the surgeon or any other person can easily preassemble a suitable combination of an anchoring element and a receiving part on demand and on-site.

Next, a tool for inserting the bone anchoring device into the bone and the use thereof is described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11. The tool 100 includes a drive member 101 rotatably guided inside a tube-like counter-holding member 102 which is fixedly connected to a handle 103. The drive member 101 comprises a tip portion 101' which is engageable with the recess 4' of the head 4 of the screw element. The overall length of the drive member 101 is such that the drive member extends through the counter-holding member 102 and through the receiving part 5 and the pressure element 6 into the recess 4' of the head of the screw element. Therefore, a rigid connection between the bone anchoring device and the drive member is established. The counter-holding portion 102 has a tip portion 102' which is connectable to the receiving part 5. For this purpose, a threaded projection 122 is provided at the tip portion which cooperates with the internal thread 57 on the legs of the receiving part 5. Between the threaded projection 122 and the tip portion 102' a shoulder 123 is formed which acts as a stop when connecting the counter-holding member to the receiving part. The threaded projection has a length which is such that the projection touches the upper edge of the pressure element when the counter holding member is connected to the receiving part. This prevents that the pressure element is displaced upward by the counter force of the bone when the screw element is inserted into the bone.

In use, after assembly of the bone anchoring device, the receiving part is engaged with the counter-holding member and the drive member is connected to the recess 4' of the head 4. Then, the screw element is inserted into the bone. Thereafter, the tool is removed and the receiving part is pivoted until it has the correct orientation to take up the rod. The rod, which connects several bone anchoring devices, is inserted and the locking device tightened to move the pressure element downward to clamp the head. The rod is then fixed by the inner screw of the locking device.

For the anchoring element all kinds of anchoring elements can be used and combined with a receiving part. These anchoring elements are e.g. screws of different length, with different diameters, cannulated screws, screws with different thread forms, nails, etc.

All kinds of receiving parts can be used in particular such with different locking devices, e.g. one part locking devices such as a single set screw which locks the rod and the head simultaneously, outer nuts, outer caps, bayonet locking devices or others. The engagement recesses for the spring elements of the pressure element need not to go through the wall completely but can be provided at the inner wall only. The shape of the receiving part is not limited to the embodiment shown. For example, the receiving part can have an asymmetric end portion for allowing a greater pivot angle of the screw member to one side.

The shape of the pressure element is also not limited to the embodiments shown. Only by way of example, the pressure element can be constructed so as to exert the pressure onto the head from the side of the head, e.g. via a conically tapering portion and/or can have a slotted portion clamping the head or other shapes.

Modifications of the tools described above are also conceivable. For example, the assembling tool can be constructed so as to clamp the pressure element.